Word Origin & History

squander 1589 (implied in squandering), "to spend recklessly or prodigiously," of unknown origin; Shakespeare used it 1593 in "Merchant of Venice" with a sense of "to be scattered over a wide area." Squander-bug, a British symbol of reckless extravagance and waste during war-time shortages, represented as a devilish insect, was introduced Jan. 1943 by the National Savings Committee. In U.S., Louis Ludlow coined squanderlust (1935) for the tendency of government bureaucracies to spend much money.

Example Sentences for squandering

If he's wrong, he could be squandering a brilliant career in cardiology on a pipe dream.

In fact, not to do so amounts to squandering a great national treasure.

Or blame yourself for squandering a tremendous opportunity.

We are squandering all our money right now on these manned adventures that will avail us absolutely nothing.

For a respected race: now running out of resources with the rest of the planet after unplanned squandering, do no more harm.

The writer had no intention of squandering money on decorations, either.

Sadly, many countries are squandering their best chance in decades.

But, as the report also points out, governments are squandering some of the benefits of this investment.

To prove that the opposite is true, though, the state will have to stop squandering resources and start using them wisely.

No more of this time-wasting, money-squandering, inter-vendor rivalry with their incompatible standards.